The Old Jolly Roger - Ft. Lauderdale Beach

The Sea Club Hotel, a 1950's vintage hotel right across the street from Ft. Lauderdale beach.

Last winter we spent a couple of nights at the Sea Club Hotel which was once the Jolly Roger. These days most of the vintage hotels on the beach are all gone, replaced with high rise condo's and hotels. One can still find many on the back streets though. These new places along the beach are beyond reach of most travellers. For instance the brand new place next door rents rooms begin at around $400 a night and breakfast beginning at $20 for coffee and toast. It appears some of the area guests come over to the Sea Club for breakfast....I can remember coming here for March break as a teenager and could afford any of the hotels on the strip...we actually stayed a night at the Holiday Inn then. Today the Holiday Inn on the strip is long gone...times have really changed at Ft. Lauderdale beach.......George

Sea Club Hotel has a great restaurant with a great view of the beach. We had breakfast there each morning. The evenings had a line up so we ate out. Guess the food quality and price must be right.

As one can see Sea Club Hotel is tiny compared to the new build to the left. The hotel to the right is closed down and I would think will be coming down soon to make room for another condo high rise. There is only one other hotel from the past still in operation on the strip on our visit...even the 1970's era Howard Johnston is now closed and waiting its fate. On our last visit Ho-Joe's was the place for breakfast along the beach.

Susanne and I at the Deck's Restaurant having our morning coffee and breakfast. A great place to start you day. It actually is the last place on the strip were you can have your coffee with a great view of the beach. 

Here is a vintage photo of the Jolly Roger during the 1950's. I took the photo in a drug store window which displayed a collection  of what once was on the strip. I do remember this hotel from my early 1970's school break. The hotel still has a lot of character today (such as Ernest Hemingway's type writer in the lobby,) but is beginning to get worn. I wonder if it will be still standing on our next visit.